Decision in IMMAF Doping Case

An independent tribunal appointed by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) has found that Ms Jamie Herrington from Canada, (Gold Medalist in the 145lb division), committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation at the 2015 IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA in Las Vegas. As result, a period of 4 years’ ineligibility has been imposed upon the athlete.

Ms Herrington participated in a series of matches through the tournament and subsequently won the gold medal in her division. She was notified of, and submitted to, a no notice post-bout competition test collected by Drug Free Sport Inc., a recognised and certified testing agency based in the USA. The sample was submitted to the World Anti-Doping Agency Laboratory in Los Angeles, (UCLA), for analysis in accordance with the WADA International Standard for Laboratories and the WADA Prohibited List.

The “A” sample analysis showed a positive result for amphetamine, a prohibited substance under S6 of the World Anti-Doping Agency Code, and therefore a breach of IMMAF’s WADA compliant Anti-Doping Rules. The athlete was notified of the result on 3rd September 2015 and provisionally suspended from this date.
At Ms. Herrington’s request, her “B” sample was also analyzed, but likewise presented a positive result for amphetamine. In reaching a decision on consequences to be imposed, the independent tribunal considered the Athlete’s explanation as to how the substance came to be present in her system, whether there was evidence of intention and the Athlete’s degree of fault in relation to this violation.

However, as no reductions were found to be applicable, the period of ineligibility imposed is 4 years commencing from the date of provisional suspension. Ms Herrington will be eligible to compete again from 3rd September 2019. Additionally, Ms. Herrington’s results from the 2015 IMMAF World Championships are disqualified with all resulting consequences. In this instance this will result in the forfeiture of Ms Herrington’s gold medal, disqualification of her results and subsequent revision of medals in that category. Right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport has not been taken up by the athlete. No orders for costs were sought or made by IMMAF. A full copy of the decision is available here: http://www.immaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/09.02.16-HERRINGTON.pdf

IMMAF CEO Densign White said:

“IMMAF takes the issue of doping very seriously. It is not solely a matter of fair play, nor also only a matter of medical safety to the individual, but in contact sports doping crucially impacts on the health and safety of opponents. Multiple innocent opponents could be exposed to increased risk through an individual’s choice to take performance enhancing drugs.

“This unfortunate case may serve as a warning to all IMMAF athletes to take care of the drinks and substances they consume and particularly to ensure they abide by the IMMAF anti-doping rules for the health and safety of all competitors, including themselves. IMMAF has a zero-tolerance approach to doping in the sport and has a duty of care to all competitors to enforce its Anti-Doping Rules. Athletes are urged to check their medications, to refrain from use of any prohibited substances during training and competition.”